Day 6 & 7

Man…to say the last 2 days have been a whirlwind is an understatement. Let me see if I can try and write.

Yesterday was Sunday, church day! We all piled in bus after another good breakfast to head to Kokombo for church service. Kokombo is a village where Tree of Life has a medical clinic and a place for worship. As soon as we pulled up, we were greeted by drums and people singing and dancing! So much that I was not sure that we would make it in the gate without running multiple people over. All loves were spared as we pulled in and were greeted by the most magnificent greeting ever. Well, they are all good, but this one was grand! Singing, dancing, drumming, shaking, smiling, on and on. The greeting lasted about 20 minutes before we headed into the church. I should also mention, that Jen Taylor got a pretty good case of car sickness on the way there. Boy 'o boy, it stinks. By the time we got into the church, I felt like I was on a boat in the middle of the ocean. I love to live by "fake it till you make it", which I still tried to live by here in Iganga. So, a lot of the church service is somewhat of a rocky blur, but I remember laughing when Pastor Stephen stood up and gave us the order of service. I can remember, "the women will lead us in a song, then another song, then another song, then another song, then the introduction, then another song," etc, or something to that effect. :) I tried my best to keep my head up and watch all that I could! It was incredible. The singing and dancing was nothing like I have ever seen before, and they worship with ALL they have, nothing held back. So cool. About an hour or so into the service, I had to be taken to the clinic. Sweet Sue said I looked terrible and that my face was as white as the little picture of Africa on my shirt. I was able to listen to the rest of the church service from the window, which was still beautiful. Not long after service ended, the meds finally kicked in, and I was on my swaying way again. :)

After lunch, we were able to take a hike up a hill. A big hill. And we were not alone. We were followed by several children, all making this big long hike with us, one little girl no older than 6 carrying her little brother on her back the whole…entire…way. I could not believe these children running and sneaking around us on this pretty tough hike, barefoot. Crazy. The top of what Sue named Lee Bowers hill (because his group did it for the first time with Tree of Life this summer, and we don't know the name) was breathtaking. Such a beautiful site. On the way back home, we were able to stop at a house where on of the elders of the village lived to give him a t-shirt. The man was beyond grateful, and offered each one of us some of his land on the hillside for us to build anything we wanted, because he wanted us to be his neighbors. For real. Land for a t-shirt. Judy handed the reusable bag that we were holding the t-shirt in to the sweet old lady, and she bowed down at Judy's feet and rubbed her face on them. Humbleness beyond belief. These sweet people love people more that we ever understand. When we got back to Kokombo, we were able to spend some time meeting a sweet lady named Jackie while 4 of the team members went back up the hill for a quick little trip to hand a mercy back to the sweet elderly man. By quick trip, I mean 1 1/2 hours. :) Uganda time…it's it's own mystery. Jackie was found by a missionary of Tree of Life about a year ago. She was very, very sick. Sweet Jackie is now healing, and will be able to go back to her own village in about 6 months when she is done with treatments. She is now able to go and tell HIS and her story of redemption and healing, all because someone said yes.

*insert a couple funnies here: Jaimie Piatnik and Josh Dean are stinking comedians I tell you. Well, we all are, and that has brought SUCH life to this trip!! While the group of 4 went back up the hill, Jaimie has another huge group of kids that followed them chanting "Jai-mie, Jai-mie, Jai-mie" and another time "Josh is weird, Josh is weird, Josh is weird". Another funny that Josh and Jaimie love to do is scream like a monster and chase the stinking kids. I can't imagine what they are thinking. Here are all these "mzungus" (white people), that they maybe have not ever seen before, and there's Josh, screaming and chasing them. No wonder the toddlers sometimes cry when they see us. Yes, I have made kids cry. Apparently waving is scary. 

Today was another wonderful day. We were able to go back to Top Hills, of course after making several stops. Our goal today was to make teacher desks, take group and individual pictures of each class from Nursery - Primary 7, and pass out mercy bags. Well, our plan is not always THE plan. We managed to I think make 1 desk, take 2 full class pictures and no mercy bags. Us = 0, God = + another one. Today was the day the rains came. And came. And came. So much so, they had to have the classes take a break because it was raining so hard you could not hear the teachers. So we sat inside and just visited. The rain was powerful and beautiful. It was loud, but peaceful at the same time. 

After the rain stopped, we started back up again with pictures. These kids…their faces. I was gifted the opportunity to be the photographer. These kids lit up at the site of the camera. They were so proud. Tucking in their shirts, and smiling. Just perfectly. You could almost see their story on their face. Precious stories that our God is redeeming by the day. Oh, it was great.

With the rain comes the red mud, and I was really looking forward to the roller coaster ride home. Our driver Haji is the best. I laughed as I was able to move to the front seat next to him today. Driving here is really like a big huge game of frogger and chicken at the same time. No traffic lights, no stop signs, just the person with the biggest vehicle gets the right away. Hilarious. I looked over after one of our stops today and watched Haji put on his seatbelt. I looked down, no seatbelt here! I pulled on his and asked where ours were?!? Hadi just let our a big 'ol belly laugh. (That was the time for a quick transportation prayer. :) )

We were able to stop in the rain on the way home to go by one of our Pastor's house, Irene and her husband Patrick. This was the first Ugandan house welcome party we have experienced. So humbling as we walk into their home, and instead of thanking them of brining us in from the rain, they thank and bless us for coming. I hope and pray I learn some of that from their culture. It was a precious time of singing and prayer for us, and us doing the same for their family and their village.

One more stop on the way back to the Mum…back to the kid's house from Hope Africa. It was for another walk we go, as the roads were too bad for the bus to make the trip down. Game time…this time more like a slip and slide. Laughs and more laughs. The kids are so sweet. They piled us all into their cooking area, which has a roof, so we wouldn't get as wet. There were about 40 or so us piled in a room no more than 10x15. We played some mean games of hand clap and "statue", where you stay as still as you can. Then someone laughs and everyone cracks up, until someone points and yells statue again. These sweet simple games bring so much joy to those kiddos.

I am filled every minute of each day with such sweet emotions. There are so many new things to see; I wish I was carrying around a camcorder. But like @ my own kids games, when I am video taping or snapping photos, I feel like I am not "all in". Here, I am trying to be all in. Because of that, I am going to share photos with Sue soon. Promise.

Don't forget to be checking Sue and Liz' blog over on the right. They give new and beautiful perspective from someone who has been and experienced this several times. AND sometimes between the 3 of us, we can almost get somewhat of a complete story. :)

Miss you all. 

Babe, please tell the boys I miss them so. I love you.

Blessings,

Jen Taylor

day 5

I really really do not even know where to start. When God said GO, I really had no idea that he would bless my pants off like he has. AND I know I can say the same for our whole team. Well maybe not Sue. :) I thought I was going to be the one ministering to His people. I am. But they are ministering to me soooooo much more.  

We started off the morning after a WELL needed good night's sleep, at the crack of 7:30am, again with breakfast and devotion time. Let me just tell you, french toast in Iganga is better than any french toast in the states. Period. 

We then headed to Bulubandi, a school and orphanage here close in Iganga sponsored by Tree of Life. Blew me away starting when we drove in the place. If you read Sue's post last night, she talked about yesterday that the kids were in school when we pulled up @ Top Hills; there was not the "welcome line" like we always hear about (though they came out reAAl quick). Today, Saturday, the kids flooded us as soon as our bus stopped. Handshakes, hugs, smiles and more smiles, the kids loved on us from the first minute. We met, we shook, we learned their names as they learned ours. Pure heaven once again.

Today, I was gifted the opportunity by being loved on by 6 girls. Gloria, their little ring leader, took me by the hand and made me one of them. They first showed me the big painted tree on the side of the school, which adorns their hand prints as leaves and grass. The girls were so proud. They then showed me their school rooms and where they attend church. They told me about Jesus, and I reassured them that He not only lives pointing up, but in each of their hearts and through them. Yes, yes, yes, was their answer back. They then showed me their school garden, that they are learning to take care of. Judy B explained to me tonight, that the garden is not necessarily big enough to supply all the kids @ Bulubandi, but gives them the skills and life lessons to take the knowledge back to their families. Such beauty…give a man a fish vs. teaching. Brilliant. :) After my garden lesson, they then said, "We want to sing for you". The girls lead me to another classroom, where I had a concert I would have paid big money for. Their voices were so sweet. Indescribable. 

We finished up @ Bulubandi and then my heart went pitter patter. Da da da DA! It was time to head to Phil's to meet the kids I have heart so much about, including my sweet Moses Okere.

We pulled up to Phil's house with Hope Africa. Kids…kids…kids. Sweet faces. All different. All so excited to know you. Laughter and shyness. Perfect.

We stayed at Phil's for a while, toured his house, and met all the wonderful women who were so busy preparing our fabulous lunch feast. Pots and fire everywhere, getting ready to serve 150. I can't imagine! I get worried sometimes preparing for our home group of 28ish. One of the first kiddos I met and was around all day was Paul Losiya, who is sponsored by my/our associate pastor Linda and her husband Randy. I introduced myself and finished with telling him Moses Okere was my son. He answered back, "Really? He will be so happy to see you." After more greetings, we all looked at each other, giddy, and said, "lets walk to the children's house". It seemed like the way there was one of the longest walks of my life. Walking hand in hand with our kids, we finally made the turn to the house. We walked in and were swarmed with more precious smiling faces. Everyone here is SOOOO happy to see and meet you, where at home we run by people with our heads down sometimes trying to pretend we didn't see them. Here, they search for you. After meeting several kids, Paul Losiya comes up to me, grabs my hand, and says "lets go get Okere". Be still, is the only thing I could think of so that I didn't run out of my dirty chacos. There he was. Moses Okere. Handsome, tall, slender, and with a perfect and shy smile. I thought for sure it would all flash before my eyes, but the Lord had it. It was slow motion. Just what I needed to take it all in. Mama Jennifer was here buddy.

There is so much…my head right now feels like I am watching a movie in fast forward, backward, and slow motion at the same time. These kids. Oh. They are just perfect. Meeting all these kids that our church and our people have had so much heart invested in for the past 5 years…for real!! AND our sweet people who minister to them everyday. Getting to know them and the kids. Turns out, most of these kids are spitting images of their sponsors or one of their own children. Paul Losiya is sooooo Linda Marceau. Moses Okere could NOT fit any better into being a Taylor. Brenda Adaka, spit fire just like Jenny Rudd. Masiat Kaufko has a sweet and tender heart of gold, just like Julie Page, and is soooo competitive in dodgeball just like Owen and Aiden. There are so many, and I can not wait to return to figure them all out. Tina and Marvin Melson, your sweet boy told me over and over and over again to tell you that he LOVES you.  Jim and Lisa Fullerton, don't worry. Glenn and I assured your Christopher Pedo that you are an awesome drummer. :) Esther and Evans, your two…again…spitting images of each of you. Quite funny actually. All of these children are precious. Nicole White, Eliya asked me to take a picture of him for you, to pray for you. There are so many others. I had such pleasure by grabbing the each of them and tell them I knew all of you. I loved telling them how much you love and pray for them. They all love you so much. So much.

Praise God for all he does, including taking care of our team all all of His people here. Besides some lack of sleep, the blessings of health of flowing through each one of us. Keep the prayers going.

Meet Haji, the best driver and comedian ever.

Emily is right at home. The kids adore her.

Josh Dean…high five down low, too slow. The jokester.

Sue and our Pastor little Stephen. So blessed to see Sue use her heart here. 

This guy right here. Moses Okere. Nothing in the world could have prepared me for meeting him. And he's very tall. :)

Masiat Kaufuko, very very proudly showing me her room and bed. 

Babe, love you and hugs to you and my boys.

Blessings,

Jen Taylor

Today really counts as day 1!

FROM SUE-

Hi everyone,

Today really counts as day 1! I have to say of all the trips I have been on I think today was the best! We spent the morning getting errands run (not a lot of fun, but necessary) and then headed out to Top Hills (a school UTOL sponsors). We had nothing on the agenda but to build relationships. No projects, no time frames, no nada. I wanted everyone to get their feet wet and to sink into the culture at their own pace. First, I had told the team to prepare for the airline to spray the plane when we landed in Kigali and that didn't happen. Then I told them to be prepared for the kids to be lined up to meet the bus. Well, that didn't happen either. We drove right into Top Hills and the front lawn area was empty. Not a soul. But then it happened. The kids came around the corner in mass. It was awesome and so the greetings began. From a personal standpoint I got to see Rashidah and my day was made. She hasn't grown hardly at all since last year, and she is much shyer. I took her hand and took her onto the bus and showed her all the pictures I had of her from last year that I keep on my phone. Little by little the smile came back. Then the shrug. Then before my eyes she was back. Grinning from ear to ear. Meanwhile Glenn had pulled out the guitar and he disappeared beneath a gaggle of kids. You could barely see his eyes above the crowd. He was amazing. If he has a single callous left on his fingers I will be surprised. He played and played and played to the point that he was reduced to playing "Old McDonald Had A Farm". I bet you didn't know there were so many animals on this planet! He had their full attention. In fact, many of them (and I mean many) sat and listened right through lunch. We finally had to leave and eat just so the kids would do the same. Emily was immediately attached to a group of girls. I think she was really happy to have some kids to play with. She was certainly in her element. Paige's heart is definitely for the kids as is most everyone's. Today was just so neat watching everyone fall into their niche.

After a really good meal of rice, beans, vegetables, chapati, and chicken (which Jaimie had not yet made friends with), we broke into teams of three and went into the surrounding area to meet the people and give mercy bags. We filled the mercy bags at the school and had a group of girls help us. As we walked off the school property each group had many kids holding our hands and going with us. It was a really sweet moment. My team consisted of Jen, Emily, Pastor Wilson and myself. What an experience we had. In the last house there was a mother with a two and a half week old baby. As we were finishing up (five of people today accepted Christ) the mother handed this baby to Jen. I thought we would never get out of there. Actually, I could see Jen trying to figure out to sneak the baby out without the mother noticing. I do give Jen Kudos. She did leave the baby and we made the trek back to the school promising all the new believers we would bring them a Bible on Monday when we return to the area. One of the ladies told us that she use to have a Bible but then she married a Muslim who refused to let her have one. He recently died and she is now really excited to be getting a new one!

Then we returned home and Phil, Susan and her two kids, Scovia, Kenneth, Ken and Kevin (both from Huntsville) came and joined us for dinner. Phil talked about his ministry. Tomorrow we head out to Bulubandi in the morning and then we plan to spend the rest of the day at Phil's. The Riverside folks are all excited to see the children they sponsor.

On the plane ride here from Amsterdam we ran into a medical mission team that works outside of Kampala and then in a village close to Iganga. The leader was a wonderful woman who I spent quite a bit of time talking to. Her team is actually staying at the Mum next week so I am hoping we get to talk some more and share information about what they do. It continues to amaze me how many people come to this country and fall in love with it.

Thank you all for your continued prayer. The team is tired but continues to go strong. 

Love you. Sue

Day 4

With day 1 & day 2 being travel days, I was soooooo excited to wake up this morning and GO!

Saying that, I was up last night from 1am-4:30am, so I can't promise much for this blog post except that it might not make sense from the lack of sleep.

We woke up (again) to get ready for breakfast with our team. Up and eating by 7:30am. Goodness, gracious. Thank goodness for coffee and some reaLLY hilarious people in this group.

After several cups of coffee and what was a confusing ordering non-menu ordering system, we ate. Then came the waiting. Waiting is very popular here in Uganda. You hurry up, and wait. Then wait some more. Coming from someone who is most times a little busy, (HA!) waiting does not come easy. It is humbling. I am starting to love the peace that is coming from it. 

We went through the town of Iganda, this time during the day. Totally different that at night. There are people. Tons of people. Everywhere. Beautiful people. People full of life. People with the biggest smiles you have ever seen. Not like American smiles, totally different. Gosh. You know, I prayed for something that people who have been here talked about. They said the first couple days of ministry you are heart broken. That it takes a couple days to figure it all out...that you can not be sad for the people here because they do not have anything. They are so happy and joy filled because they have it all. They get it. 

After what seemed to be like 8 stops, getting this, picking up that, dropping off so and so, picking up one person and waving at another, we made it to our first ministry day. We went to a school sponsored by Tree of Life called Top Hills. Good night nurse. I can't describe it. The beauty in these kids faces. Our team had ants in our pants trying to get off the bus!!! The biggest and whitest smiles you have ever seen. Laughter and concentration, as they introduced themselves and asked us for our names. Again. and Again. Over and over. So much I can not put into words. Just pure Heaven really. Greeted over and over again, like you are the most important person they have ever met. Hand holding x 250. My name is...what is your name x 250. Laughter x 250. Oh gosh.

Turns out that I am terrible at chicken, chicken, dog, but the kids loved it. I was dog in the middle many many rounds. Then came the singing, the laughing, building the mercy bags, me making a small human cry, the fabulous hand made lunch, the bathrooms (terrible, terrible), more laughs, and just being. Being God's hand chosen people to love on his people. If you send a girl to Iganda to be a missionary, she will get blessed more than she ever knew. It's only day 1ish. 

We then got split up into different groups to go evangelize. Oh goodness....the main thing I am NOT looking forward to on this trip (that and the bathrooms. Ugh!). We were team Wilson, whoop whoop, and Sue was amazing. She has a gift straight from Jesus to tell his story, to people who do not understand our language (blessings to Pastor Wilson for being able to translate!). It was sooooo fun to see her in her element, witnessing to women and their children. Ohhhh. We were able to bless 3 different families with His word, and mercy bags filled with sugar, salt, soap and tea. Again, if you send a girl to Iganga to be a missionary, she will have a woman that she just met hand her her 2 1/2 WEEK old child to hold, love on and pray for. Come on people! HELLO! I can't make that stuff up. Me & a baby. Love me some babies. 

We ended up the afternoon with more dropping people off, transporting this, grabbing that, to have a whopping 15 minutes before we were to report for dinner. Dinner was with our team, our wonderful driver Haji, our missionary Phil, Susan, Scovia, Kenneth, Kaith and Raith (Susan's babies). We were also joined by 2 Elpis people that are up from Huntsville, Ken (who is adopting one of the kids from Hope Africa) and his friend Kevin. Very nice dinner with a great group of people. More laughter than one could ever expect from a group of church people. :)

That leads me to now. Time for a shower and hopefully a better night's sleep. Please pray for that. AND pray for a continuation of pure heaven as we get to go to Hope Africa tomorrow and I meet Moses and his 114 friends.

Look at these kids. No words.

 

This is the mama that let me hold her little bit of honey. 

We are finally at our destination...

FROM SUE-

Hi everyone... Yes, we are finally in Iganga. Seems like every year it takes longer and longer to get here. I do want to give a thumbs up to Delta. They were excellent from the start. They were so good to us all. Well except for one tiny detail. After arriving in Entebbe all our luggage arrived...except one of Liz's bags. Sadly, it was the one with ALL her clothes. It stayed in Kigali, which I'm not sure is any better than if it had remained in the States. So we went to baggage claim who told us there were "many" flights from there to here and it would be hand delivered to our hotel. Well as of tonight it still remains in Kigali! We did go into town today to buy her some undergarments (a highly non-spoken about item in this country). One of our Pastors took us and though I had told him what we needed he misunderstood and thought she needed a skirt. So his only question as we stopped at the first "shop" was if she wanted long or short! Needless, to say, this brought a few chuckles to our faces. When he finally understood what we were looking for he turned a few shades of red. I think we know each other better today than before!

We arrived here safely and have to say we are all exhausted but eager to go to one of our schools at Top Hills tomorrow to see the kids. It was so good for me to see Haji this morning and then be greeted by the Pastors this afternoon. I felt like I was seeing old friends.

I promise to blog more tomorrow but after a little more than five hours sleep since Tuesday I am too tired to think. Love you all. Sue

We made it!

After getting to the SA airport @ 10:30am Tuesday, a flight to Detroit, flight to Amsterdam, flight to Kigali, we are now about to land in Entebbe at 2:15ish SA time, 10:15pm . We will be staying at a place called Banana Village tonight in Entebbe.

Flights were nuts-o. I'm not a big traveler, probably been in a plane 5 times in my life. Big 'ol airport in Detroit, there was one section that I called club Detroit. It had a colorful crazy colored ceiling. I danced all the way through. :) the next flight to Amsterdam can only be described as L. O. N. G. And cramped. And long. No sleep. We tried to sleep on the floor of the Amsterdam airport. It didn't work, but we did manage to get some Starbucks, for $13 for a coffee & a muffin. The next flight to Kigali was much much better. Not as crowded, and by then, exhaustion set in and I think I slept for a couple hours. I've seen more movies in a day that I ever thought I could, but can't remember since it all has flown by. :)

I am a little sad to be getting here @ 10pm so that I will have to wait till tomorrow morning to get to see Africa.

Till then friends. Please pray for a good nights rest tonight in Entebbe, as I bunk up with 3 others.

Airport in Entebbe-we did well with luggage. Just lost 1 for now, and it was even a carry on! Sorry Liz. They made us check in at last minute and her bag is still in Kigali. They promise it will be here sometime before she leaves in 28 days. :)

The ride to banana village was an easy introduction into what we will see today. It was pitch dark, not much electricity around. People were everywhere. Since there isn't much electricity, people stand out side & visit. Some right on the street!

We got to Banana Village and found our rooms and headed to bed pretty quickly. It was after midnight, and we were all a little delirious. I don't remember much except for using Sue's deodorant. :)

We woke up to the sound of roosters in the distance at about 6:30am. I missed the call to prayer that most others heard @ 6. I was still in dream land. The hotel is beautiful. We started with a devotion from Sue, and a sweet song from Glenn. Breakfast was some star instant coffee, which was pretty good, scrambled eggs, a banana and passion fruit juice.

Oh goodness...about 8 hours later and we just arrived in Iganga! Too much to write and will write more soon!

Blessings,
Jen

-sent from my iPhone

1 day...

1 day...

1 day, I thought, "hey, I want to go to Africa...".
1 day, Blake looked at me and said "I want to go to Africa".
1 day, I watched my husband board a plane with several of my friends to go to Africa.
1 day, I knew my time would come.
1 day, my husband came back with a changed heart.
1 day, I heard about another trip coming up to go.
1 day, I very peacefully heard the Lord say it's not your time.
1 day, I longed and prayed for my time to come.
1 day, my friends Sue and Liz did a Mission prayer/poem for Uganda.
1 day, my heart will still. Still in prayer knowing He said it is time.
1 day, I had to figure out how to manage the next 9 months in preparing.
1 day is here.

I am 1 day away. 

1 day away from boarding a plane in SA, and landing in Entebbe, Uganda many, many, many hours later. 

1 day to settle my heart and prepare for the total unknown.

I can hardly think straight. So much on the brain.

Prayer partners, here are some things to keep in prayer:
-pray for peace for all of us as we wrap things up on this last day
-prayers for my sweet friend Charis' friend Reagon, while she is waiting for her lung transplant. 
-prayers for the now 12 of us who are preparing and going: Judy B, Sue, Liz, Jaimie (who are all staying for 1 month total), Glenn, Judy H, Vicki, Emily, Paige, John, Josh & I
-prayers for my husband as he becomes ALL for the next 2 weeks
-prayers for my kids, for them to remember what they need to do, and for them to have peace while their mama is gone
-prayers for my family and friends who are all taking parts of my life to help while I am gone
-prayers for smooth and easy transitions in the kids schedules
-prayers for easy mornings with the drop offs
-prayers for fun Dad evenings and weekends
-prayers for the basketball games, gymnastics classes, cross country meets, etc that I am missing
-prayers for my nasty cold/sinus/allergies to be gone in the name of Jesus before I get on that plane
-prayers for sleep and supernatural rest while I am gone
-prayers for the Lord to show me and guide me to His people. To be His hands and feet.
-prayers for all of you, who will keep me lifted up these next 2 weeks to go and be the best Jesus servant I can

I will be trying to update this blog while I am gone. We will also be updating Riverside Around the World and My Team Leader Sue's blog A Heart for Uganda 2013. 

Lastly, I wanted to share my Africa letter again. I am soooooooo excited to say that I was way fully funded, and even have some project money once we hit the ground. 

This tug on my little heart strings is singing praise this morning for every step. So many songs running through my head, I couldn't sleep past 3:30am. I can not wait till that is replaced my the songs of hundreds of children worshiping with all their might. 

1 day, friends. 1 day. 

To my dearest family and friends,

Wow. I don’t even know where to start. But guess what? I am going to AFRICA!

I am going to try my best to explain how God changed my heart for Africa. Several years ago, our Church was able to partner with another local church and bring in the Mwangaza Children’s Choir. Wow. Then, our church’s first visionary mission group went to Uganda. Tug...I wanted to go, but was not my time. Our church was able to build a well for a new school in Iganga, Uganda. Here we go. Not long after that, one of the missionaries that was on that first vision trip decided to sell all his belongings and move there. Bam. Phil, that missionary, was able to get a house and start an orphanage. What? The numbers grew from 20 children, to 60, to 100. How? Our church started partnering with Phil’s ministry to find sponsors for these beautiful children...to send them to school, give them a place to live, clothes, and food daily, to love on them from several thousand miles away. During one sponsorship weekend, Blake picked up a card of a 10 year old boy, named Moses Okere, filled out a sponsor form, and this sweet little boy became part of our family. Holy Moly. People started going...to visit these kids and act as short term missionaries there. Was it my time then? NOPE. It was Blake’s, and he was able to go 3 summers ago. When was it going to be MY turn?
Well, God has opened the door for ME to go this year, to share HIS love to HIS children in Uganda, East Africa, and to live out this dream I have been having for several years. I will be traveling September 17th- October 1st with a new group our church is partnering with, Tree of Life Ministry, who support schools and medical clinics in and around the community of Iganga, Uganda. (More info about their ministry can be found at www.utol.org.)

I will be traveling and working with an awesome group of people, from several churches and communities around the Boerne/Spring Branch area, whom all share a similar heart for ministry. We will spend about 11 days there on the ground in Uganda, doing a VBS, evangelism and discipleship training, and most importantly loving on these sweet kids, who come from totally different backgrounds. We get to work very closely with the Tree of Life Pastors and the children. A group of us from our church also get to spend some time with our missionary, Phil, and visit and love on our kids at Hope Ministries there as well. I am so excited to get to go love on kids (which you know I love to do) and let HIS light shine.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

I truly believe that we ALL have a purpose and part in this. Some of us go, some of us pray, while others of us send. Up until know, I was the one in prayer and the one at the airport waiving and crying as they left and holding signs and cheering as they came back. I am still in awe thinking that it is MY time to make the trip. This is where you, my sweet family and friends, come in. It is only by support from others that will make this opportunity possible for me. The most important need for our team is PRAYER, while we are preparing, on our way back, and especially while we are there. This is a huge step outside my comfort zone, and I can not do this alone. Please pray that I remain healthy, so that I can be a willing disciple while I am there. I have NO idea what awaits me, but I know that God has some exciting stuff planed.

Please join me in praying this scripture for me and our trip...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Lastly, we rely strongly on financial support from family and friends. The total trip will cost each of us $3000. The first $2000 is due to Tree of Life by June 30th, with the next $1000 due by July 30th. This is a LOT of money, and any and all contributions would be greatly appreciated. God willing, if I surpass the cost of my trip, all additional monies will be put towards projects and supplies for these sweet kiddos. Checks should be made out to Tree of Life Ministry, with “Jennifer Taylor” in the Memo line. Please mail the check to me (address below)and I will send them on to Tree of Life. All contributions are tax deductible.
I know that for many of us there are difficult times (including the person writing this letter). Please know from the bottom of my heart, if you can not help at this time, I totally understand. The Lord has had our own family in situations where sometimes we could help financially and other times where we could help only through prayer. I am trying to live in obedience and am so excited about this opportunity. The thing I most appreciate is your thoughts and prayers as I prepare & GO. If you would like to receive updates on my trip, please let me know and send me your email address! I can not thank you enough for supporting me in fulfilling God’s promises to the nations.

One last thing...let me tell you that this now 15 year old Moses (pictured below-loves the Astros and THAT I NOW GET TO GO MEET-WOOOHOOO) is now a Taylor through and through. Our boys love that boy and pray for him daily. Our Moses has no parents in Africa and was living on the streets, but is thriving in school and in LIFE! All because someone went on a mission trip and said YES to the tug of his heart strings to love on others.

Blessings to all of you,

Jen

1 year and 10 months later...

Turns out, when you don't post, blogger doesn't do it for you!

I am starting to THINK about thinking about what I need to do for the next 37 days. 37 days. In 37 days I leave for Iganga, Uganda. Hold please while I pinch myself.

Ok, done.

It is still hard for me to wrap my brain around the idea that I am going to Iganga, something that I have thought and dreamed about for 5 years. 

Lord, please guide me in these next 37 days as I prepare to be your hands and feet.

Blake! & a little weekend fun

Hopefully you are keeping up with Blake on the blogs that I posted last time...but here's a pic that took my breath away! This is him standing in the Jordan River. Incredible.

Sweet Cam almost got sick from the heat at baseball practice, AND...to finish up our weekend, a little trip to Urgent Care. Always a joy.

If you give an 8 year old a scooter, he'll try and do a wheelie. Then he'll fall, only to be caught by the handle bar in the face.

If you take that same boy to Urgent Care, the doctor will say, "oh, he's just too cute for glue. Let's numb him up and put stitches in that poor sweet face"

If you give that same kid numbing cream, he'll feel so good that he'll actually WATCH the doc put in his 3 stitches.

It's always an adventure around here. Love to you all!

slacker

So it seems as though someone on here hasn't blogged a whole lot. Hmmm...wonder who that could be?

10 for Tuesday:

1. Please go check out my friend Vicki's blog (listed below right as Marquez Family). Blake is on a Israel trip with her husband. (Another blog is http://gtitours.org/tour/2011-09-17-israel-with-scott-heare/)

2. Again, Blake was blessed with a 14 day study trip to Israel with our pastor. What an incredible experience!

3. Yesterday was our 13th anniversary. Blake got to swim in the Dead Sea! I got to take boys to dentist.

4. I just heard Lucy fart. Seriously. Made the poot sound. Blake always said she did it every morning. I never believed him. Until now.

5. Camron is playing YMCA baseball this fall. For all of you who know us, we NEVER play a fall sport. We are crazy.

6. Brandon is still doing gymnastics and is loving it.

7. I am in my 5th week of boot camp. I don't know what I was thinking on that one. I am still waiting till that "loving it" stage will hit.

8. I am on week 2 of our boot camp's Paleo Challenge. Google paleo. It's hard to eat that way. AND there's also exercise every night to top it off!

9. I miss my friend Brooke and her family. I miss them dearly.

10. I ALSO miss my family, both sides. Boo.